Flexible input/output zone in a server chassis

Abstract

In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a server chassis may include a server zone to receive a plurality of blade servers, each of the plurality of blade servers having a fabric connection. The server chassis may further include a flexible input/output zone to receive an input/output card, the input/output card being communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of blade servers via the fabric connection of each of the plurality of blade servers. The functionality of the input/output card may be distributed across the plurality of blade servers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A server chassis comprising:
 a server zone to receive a plurality of servers, each of the plurality of servers having a fabric connection; 
 a flexible input/output zone positioned in a rear portion of the server chassis and to receive a first input/output card, the first input/output card being communicatively coupled to a rear of each of multiple servers of the plurality of servers via the fabric connection of each of the multiple servers, wherein functionality of the first input/output card is distributed across the multiple servers; and 
 a second input/output zone to receive a second input/output card communicatively connected to a front of a first server of the multiple servers, and a third input/output card communicatively connected to a front of a second server of the multiple servers, the second input/output zone positioned at a front of the server zone, and the flexible input/output zone positioned at a rear of the server zone, 
 and wherein the flexible input/output zone is to further receive a fourth input/output card, wherein the multiple servers are part of a first subset of the plurality of servers, and the fourth input/output card is communicatively coupled to a rear of each of multiple servers of a second subset of the plurality of servers. 
 
     
     
       2. The server chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the first input/output card is a network interface controller. 
     
     
       3. The server chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the first input/output card is a storage input/output controller. 
     
     
       4. The server chassis of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power supply electrically coupled to each of the plurality of servers; and 
 a cooling fan coupled to the server chassis. 
 
     
     
       5. The server chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the server zone is positioned in a front portion of the server chassis. 
     
     
       6. A server chassis comprising:
 a server zone to receive a plurality of blade servers, each of the plurality of blade servers having a fabric connection; 
 a flexible input/output zone positioned in a rear portion of the server chassis and to receive a first input/output card and a second input/output card, the first input/output card being communicatively coupled to a rear of a first subset of the plurality of blade servers via the fabric connection of each of the first subset of the plurality of blade servers, and the second flexible input/output card being communicatively coupled to a rear of a second subset of the plurality of blade servers via the fabric connection of each of the second subset of the plurality of blade servers, 
 wherein functionality of the first input/output card is distributed across the first subset of the plurality of blade servers, and 
 wherein functionality of the second input/output card is distributed across the second subset of the plurality of blade servers; and 
 a second input/output zone to receive a third input/output card communicatively connected to a front of a first server of the plurality of servers, and to receive a fourth input/output card communicatively connected to a front of a second server, the second input/output zone positioned at a front of the server zone, and the flexible input/output zone positioned at a rear of the server zone. 
 
     
     
       7. The server chassis of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a power supply electrically coupled to each of the plurality of blade servers; and 
 a cooling fan coupled to the server chassis. 
 
     
     
       8. The server chassis of  claim 6 , wherein the first input/output card is a network interface controller, and wherein the second input/output card is a storage input/output controller. 
     
     
       9. The server chassis of  claim 6 , wherein the first input/output card is a first network interface controller, and wherein the second input/output card is a second network interface controller. 
     
     
       10. The server chassis of  claim 6 , wherein the server zone is positioned in a front portion of the server chassis. 
     
     
       11. A server system comprising:
 a server chassis; 
 a server zone positioned in a front portion of the server chassis and comprising a plurality of blade servers, each of the plurality of blade servers having a fabric connection; 
 a first flexible input/output zone positioned in a rear portion of the chassis and comprising a first input/output card, the first input/output card being communicatively coupled to a rear of each of multiple blade servers of the plurality of blade servers via the fabric connections of the multiple blade servers, wherein functionality of the first input/output card is distributed across the multiple blade servers; and 
 a second flexible input/output zone positioned at a front of the server zone and comprising a second input/output card communicatively connected to a front of a first blade server of the multiple blade servers, and comprising a third input/output card communicatively connected to a front of a second server of the multiple servers, the second input/output zone positioned at a front of the server zone, and the flexible input/output zone positioned at a rear of the server zone; 
 and wherein the first flexible input/output zone further comprises a fourth input/output card, wherein the multiple blade servers are part of a first subset of the plurality of blade servers, and the fourth input/output card is communicatively coupled to a rear of each of multiple servers of a second subset of the plurality of servers. 
 
     
     
       12. The server system of  claim 11 , wherein the multiple blade servers are part of a first subset of the plurality of blade servers, the first flexible input/output zone further comprises a second input/output card, the second input/output card of the first flexible input/output zone being communicatively coupled to a rear of each of multiple blade servers of a second subset of the plurality of blade servers, wherein functionality of the second input/output card of the first flexible input/output zone is distributed across the multiple blade servers of the second subset of the plurality of blade servers. 
     
     
       13. The server chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the second input/output card and the third input/output card are of different types. 
     
     
       14. The server chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the first input/output card and the fourth input/output card are of different types. 
     
     
       15. The server chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the second input/output zone provides additional expansion functionality for the plurality of servers, in addition to expansion functionality of the flexible input/output zone. 
     
     
       16. The server chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the server chassis supports both front cabling and rear cabling, the front cabling supporting connection of a cable to a front of the server chassis, and the rear cabling supporting connection of a cable to a rear of the server chassis. 
     
     
       17. The server system of  claim 11 , wherein the second input/output card and the third input/output card are of different types. 
     
     
       18. The server chassis of  claim 6 , wherein the first input/output card and the fourth input/output card are of different types. 
     
     
       19. The server chassis of  claim 6 , wherein the second input/output zone provides additional expansion functionality for the plurality of blade servers, in addition to expansion functionality of the flexible input/output zone. 
     
     
       20. The server chassis of  claim 6 , wherein the server chassis supports both front cabling and rear cabling, the front cabling supporting connection of a cable to a front of the server chassis, and the rear cabling supporting connection of a cable to a rear of the server chassis.